diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/42786-sysvinit-fix-2-issues.yml b/changelogs/fragments/42786-sysvinit-fix-2-issues.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..8b260d3efb1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/42786-sysvinit-fix-2-issues.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+bugfixes:
+- "sysvinit module: handle values of optional parameters (https://github.com/ansible/ansible/pull/42786).
+  Don't disable service when `enabled` parameter isn't set.
+  Fix command when `arguments` parameter isn't set."
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/system/sysvinit.py b/lib/ansible/modules/system/sysvinit.py
index 95c1fe6bcee..c39e2866ec1 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/system/sysvinit.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/system/sysvinit.py
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ def main():
                 elif location.get('chkconfig'):
                     (rc, out, err) = module.run_command("%s --level %s %s off" % (location['chkconfig'], ''.join(runlevels), name))
     else:
-        if enabled != runlevel_status["enabled"]:
+        if enabled is not None and enabled != runlevel_status["enabled"]:
             result['changed'] = True
             result['status']['enabled']['changed'] = True
 
@@ -300,7 +300,9 @@ def main():
 
         def runme(doit):
 
-            cmd = "%s %s %s %s" % (script, doit, name, module.params['arguments'])
+            args = module.params['arguments']
+            cmd = "%s %s %s" % (script, doit, "" if args is None else args)
+
             # how to run
             if module.params['daemonize']:
                 (rc, out, err) = daemonize(cmd)